Band books

&fist; In prose, cynical is used rather than
cynic, in the senses 1 and 4.

Cynic spasm (Med.), a convulsive
contraction of the muscles of one side of the face, producing a
sort of grin, suggesting certain movements in the upper lip of a
dog.

Cyn"ic, n. (Gr. Philos)
1. One of a sect or school of philosophers
founded by Antisthenes, and of whom Diogenes was a disciple. The
first Cynics were noted for austere lives and their scorn for
social customs and current philosophical opinions. Hence the term
Cynic symbolized, in the popular judgment, moroseness, and
contempt for the views of others.

2. One who holds views resembling those
of the Cynics; a snarler; a misanthrope; particularly, a person
who believes that human conduct is directed, either consciously
or unconsciously, wholly by self-interest or self-indulgence, and
that appearances to the contrary are superficial and
untrustworthy.

He could obtain from one morose cynic,
whose opinion it was impossible to despise, scarcely any not
acidulated with scorn.

Macaulay.

Cyn"ic*al*ly
(s&ibreve;n"&ibreve;*kal*l&ybreve;),
adv. In a cynical manner.


Pages:
2732 2733 2734 2735 2736 2737 2738 2739 2740 2741 2742 2743 2744 2745 2746 2747 2748 2749 2750 2751 2752 2753 2754 2755 2756